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Thanks Doug for the help. I submitted the email and then checked on my package and made the change you mentioned after seeing that I did indeed have that specific legacy one. So, hopefully, they'll add my MRV back soon. What a cluster you know what. It amazes me how stupid some companies can be. It will absolutely get D some negative commentary and anger that so could have been avoided. Reminds me of that old Bill Cosby joke: "...we can't go to sleep unless we've had a good beating!"

Jeff

Well, maybe a small blip .. In the long run things will get fixed because folks will get turned on eventually and ultimately all will be forgotten. The only thing people will remember is that it costs more to use it now. Don't know if that's good or bad, but it is what it is.

The phrasing "unsupported" concerns me. Does that mean they don't support any part of our system or just don't call with network issues because the network is my problem? I am paying for the service plan thing so I'd hate to think this is me saying I am ok with them not fixing any problems.

If you have MRV issues, they will not support them unless you are on DECA. For obvious reasons, they cannot provide support for network issues unless the flow of data is coming from hardware that they can control.

I tried the email version twice with no luck - one just replied that they passed it onto someone who will get back with me within 48 hours (from about 1pm today...) and the other said I can't do it with my Total Choice Plus package (which may end up being the case but it seems others have had it work).

Sooo.....I thought I would try to call to talk to someone since my MRV is now turned off and I would like to get this activated by tonight and here is the fun part....

The CSR first told me that I needed to remove my access card......I asked why, lol...after explaining again what I wanted, she told me none of my receivers would work with it and I politely explained that the two HR20's would so she put me on hold to talk to a supervisor and came back and said that he confirmed that I needed all new HR24's to replace my 4 receivers....

If you see both 'HD Service' and 'DVR Service' active on your account, then the package you have is NOT your problem. In your case it is most likely that the 'u' flag is not set for MRV-Compatibility.

If that DO NOT show 'currently active' as seen in the images below, then that needs to be corrected. Both MUST say 'currently active' before 'whole home dvr service' can be activated.

HD service and DVR service are both currently active. I sent another email exactly as you instructed in the first post here so hopefully it gets taken care of on this 4th try.

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I do, I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, and was in no way fair comment, and was motivated purely by malice, and I deeply regret any distress that my comments may have caused you, or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future.

True. I wonder if the OP realizes it is not an additional $20. It would either be $3 or $4 "more" depending on if he keeps the legacy package.

All in all, it does seem like a good move for the CSRs to have this moved to e-mail vs. call-in. Based on what I'm reading here, there is seems to be too much time spent by the CSRs trying to get unsupported systems activated.

If you have MRV issues, they will not support them unless you are on DECA that they installed. For obvious reasons, they cannot provide support for network issues unless the flow of data is coming from hardware that they can control.

I believe this is now correct.

I do, I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, and was in no way fair comment, and was motivated purely by malice, and I deeply regret any distress that my comments may have caused you, or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future.

yup .. looks like the MRV-Compatibility flag isn't set to 'u' .. Once that gets done, then you should be all set to add WHDS. It doesn't seem like anything else would be a problem in your case.

Sending the email you describe in post 1 should accomplish this, correct? Or is there something else I need to do?

I do, I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, and was in no way fair comment, and was motivated purely by malice, and I deeply regret any distress that my comments may have caused you, or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future.

Well, there is hope! I was on another phone attempt and had just explained to the CSR yet again that I did not need new equipment when I got an email back from an early attempt saying they activated it, which I can confirm on my TV!

Please note that I did NOT have to change my legacy Total Choice Plus Locals package and I have one of those accounts that still show "Get Direct TV HD Service" (as if it is not already active). So there is a way to do it using your legacy package apparently.

Thanks for all the great advice and suggestions! Where would we be without this site?

I just got off the phone and accomplished it after a few tries. The first couple of CSR's were completely befuddled, which I don't blame them for. The last call, I opened with "yes, I need to activate Whole Home DVR service. I do not have the HR24 or DECA equipment that you will see it says is necessary, but I do have my equipment networked already, it can be done with and you will likely have to transfer me to Network support to get this done."

I do, I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, and was in no way fair comment, and was motivated purely by malice, and I deeply regret any distress that my comments may have caused you, or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future.

This is exactly the reason .. It's a bug in the process, but one I don't think will be changing. The lack of 'HD Access' showing up for that package has been true for years, it's only now that it matters. You can keep the legacy package or go with MRV, but I don't think you'll have success keeping the legacy package and getting MRV.

So I'm on the Premier Package with the grandfathered free DVR service. I tried this method, but they are telling me they can't enable it unless i change to the current DVR package and pay $7/mo for DVR?

SERIOUSLY? I'm beyond pissed off at DTV right now and as far as I'm concerned unless they change this policy in the next few weeks I'll be done with directv when my contract is up in September and I've been a customer since 1999 or 2000.

So I'm on the Premier Package with the grandfathered free DVR service. I tried this method, but they are telling me they can't enable it unless i change to the current DVR package and pay $7/mo for DVR?

Not true. I am on Choice Ulimate with lifetime DVR, and they turned it on just fine. Thats bogus info they are giving you. Call again and get someone else.

Not true. I am on Choice Ulimate with lifetime DVR, and they turned it on just fine. Thats bogus info they are giving you. Call again and get someone else.

Thank you for writing. It is a pleasure to hear from one of our loyal customers. We appreciate your business and continued support.

We will be happy to assist you with adding the Whole-Home DVR service to your account. Please know that to enjoy the very best of our Whole-Home DVR service, we request that customers upgrade to our SWiM Network for optimal usage of the Whole-Home DVR service.

While we understand that you have made a substantial investment in a non-SWiM home network, we can activate the Whole-Home DVR service at its normal price at $3.00 per residence.

However, we will be unable to provide additional support (troubleshooting) specific to the Whole-Home DVR Service. In addition, by adding the service without upgrading doesn't include DECAs and Band-Stop Filters nor receiver swaps.

In order to activate services for Whole-Home DVR, you will need to upgrade your package to a current package of CHOICE or above as your current package is no longer available.

Currently, your package is the PREMIER with DVR Service included. If you want to keep the PREMIER package, you will be charge separately for the DVR Service which is $7 a month.

Have you had any luck re-activating MRV with DirecTV?
I am like you and just want MRV re-activated without anything being installed since it was working fine during the beta stage. I called D but the Rep couldn't just re-activate it without scheduling the $99 install, etc.
We made need to wait for awhile when it becomes more mainstream OR call retention.

So I'm on the Premier Package with the grandfathered free DVR service. I tried this method, but they are telling me they can't enable it unless i change to the current DVR package and pay $7/mo for DVR?

SERIOUSLY? I'm beyond pissed off at DTV right now and as far as I'm concerned unless they change this policy in the next few weeks I'll be done with directv when my contract is up in September and I've been a customer since 1999 or 2000.

I'm sick of them nickle and diming me on everything.

I also have Premier and Lifetime DVR service. I sent the e-mail in a while ago to re-activate MRV, no response yet, but I'll post when I see something.

D really dropped the ball on this one, especially for the Beta Testers. I mean really all they had to do was notify us beta testers earlier to activate before it went national. Thats the least they could of did for testing it for them GEESH.

Lost my MRV today as most of you. I assumed last week that this would happen so I scheduled my DECA installation for tommorrow morning. Got a call today and they confirmed the time slot.

Wanting to use MRV tonight and before they come tommorrow, I called DTV to ask to get it turned on now. The 1st line CSR didn't even know what MRV was but transferred me to a "Protection Plan" CSR. Since she couldn't do anything, she investigated and found out who to transfer me too. My 3rd CSR was a very pleasant lady who said she could do it but would take a few minutes and possibly a restart of the receiver. She activated it then stayed on the line while I restarted the receiver and like magic it began working again. I've checked all my other STB's and all show MRV is active.

I am also on the Total Choice Legacy package and this did not cause any issues.

I believe I was successful because I am scheduled for an install tommorrow.

This was a well trained CSR. She has handled many calls today as the beta program switch was turned off.

I was also a Beta tester. I called this evening and was able to add the MRV without the DECA upgrade. It took a few minutes of running some steps on their end, but it is now back up and working. The CSR said that she had to upgrade me to a current package and then was able to downgrade back to the original (XTRA plus HDDVR). I even received the HD extra pack free for 3 months.

So I'm on the Premier Package with the grandfathered free DVR service. I tried this method, but they are telling me they can't enable it unless i change to the current DVR package and pay $7/mo for DVR?

SERIOUSLY? I'm beyond pissed off at DTV right now and as far as I'm concerned unless they change this policy in the next few weeks I'll be done with directv when my contract is up in September and I've been a customer since 1999 or 2000.

I'm sick of them nickle and diming me on everything.

I agree 100% enough of this nickle and diming BS, I have the no longer offered Choice Xtra + HD DVR package to which I understand you cannot have for MRV to activate. I need to have the equilavent package which is an extra dollar a month, I know it's a dollar but when I have to pay an extra 3 dollars for MRV that 4 bucks now fo me.

i just called for the 3rd time and got a CSR that knew what he was doing. he removed my choice xtra hddvr and added choice xtra, hd, and dvr, then added whole house dvr...and so far everything is fine. didnt need to go the email route.

Thanks for writing. I understand that you are interested in our Whole-Home DVR service.

DIRECTV Whole Home DVR Service gives you the power to share all of your recorded programs with any TV in your house. You can also:

- Record, delete, pause and rewind your favorite shows no matter where you are- Manage your DVR playlist from any room- Record two shows while watching two others- Set separate parental controls for each TV- Watch your recorded shows in HD in any room

To start recording and watching your favorite programs in any room one of your networked TV's needs to be connected to a whole home capable HD DVR and your other TV's will need to be connected to whole home capable HD receivers. HD Access, DVR Service and Whole Home DVR Service are also required.

Call us at 1-800-531-5000 to schedule your Whole-Home DVR service installation. For more information on DIRECTV® Whole-Home DVR service, visit directv.com/wholehome

Thanks again for writing.

Sincerely,

Marion G. - xxxxxxxxxxDIRECTV Customer Service

P.S. Have a question? Anytime, any topic, instant answers - support.directv.com The Answer Center provides you helpful information, 24/7, all at your fingertips.

Customer (xxxxxxxxxxx) - 05/20/2010 12:50 PMI would like to add whole home DVR Service to my account using my existing equipment. I am already networked and was part of the Multiroom Viewing Public Beta that has been going on the past few months. I realize this will add $3/month to my bill.